RopesTalk

On this Ropes & Gray podcast, Jeff Katz, the head of the firm's shareholder engagement practice, and Bryan Lowrance, an associate in the same practice, discuss how active asset managers are successfully—and often quietly—engaging with public companies to increase value and improve corporate governance. On this episode, Jeff and Bryan discuss what they mean by “activism for non-activists” and provide a framework for successful constructive engagement.

On this inaugural episode of Ropes & Gray’s podcast series, Carbon Talk, asset management partner Jeremy Liabo and associate Anne Fox provide listeners with an introduction to the global carbon markets. Throughout their discussion, Jeremy and Anne outline the chief differences between mandatory carbon markets, on the one hand, and voluntary carbon markets, on the other hand. As part of this overview, Jeremy and Anne address a variety of topics including the different types of carbon “credits” and how they are each generated or issued, purchased by primary market participants and traded on the secondary market.

On this episode of Ropes & Gray’s California Law for Asset Managers podcast series, asset management counsel Catherine Skulan and Chelsea Childs provide an overview of California’s fee disclosure law, its implications in connection with fundraising with California pension plans and how the market has responded and adapted to the law since its enactment over five years ago.

On this episode of the R&G Tech Studio, mergers & acquisitions partner Sarah Young sits down with data, privacy & cybersecurity partner Fran Faircloth to discuss how she advises clients on all aspects of corporate strategy, and whether she thinks artificial intelligence and machine learning will impact her clients in the months and years ahead.

On this episode of There Has to Be a Better Way?, co-hosts Zach Coseglia and Hui Chen speak with Kevin Espinoza, a former collegiate coach who moved into compliance from sales and marketing. He talks about how this unique perspective has informed his approach to build compliance programs that embed compliance within the business, with compliance professionals focused on the same business goals as their colleagues.

On this episode of Ropes & Gray’s podcast series, The Sponsor’s Edge: Insights on Growth and Venture Investing, asset management counsel Catherine Skulan hosts the second of a two-part conversation between Brad Flint, partner and co-lead of Ropes & Gray’s venture investing & emerging companies practice, and Raj Banerjee, a senior associate in that practice. Brad and Raj cover some traditional means of bridging valuation gaps before discussing the emergence of additional terms and investor protection mechanisms recently taking root in the market.

Section 337 investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission are known for their speed. But in recent years, the ITC has introduced multiple avenues designed to resolve some of these cases even more quickly—including just a few months after institution. On this episode of Ropes & Gray’s ITC-focused podcast series, Talkin’ Trade, IP litigators Matt Rizzolo, Matt Shapiro, and Brendan McLaughlin are joined by summer associate Ava Kamb to examine the development and history of the ITC’s so-called “100-day program,” as well as the more recent interim initial determination pilot program. They discuss the purpose and motivations behind these early disposition proceedings, the mechanics of how they are invoked and progress to a resolution, and consider whether these programs have lived up to expectations. 

On this episode of Ropes & Gray’s California Law for Asset Managers podcast series, asset management counsel Catherine Skulan and Chelsea Childs provide an overview of the lobbying law regime and registration requirements applicable to asset managers seeking investments from California pension plans and retirement systems.

On this episode of There Has to Be a Better Way?, co-hosts Zach Coseglia and Hui Chen talk to Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, a pioneer in the field of responsible AI. Currently a Responsible AI Fellow at Harvard, with prior leadership roles at Twitter and Accenture, Rumman has first-hand insight into the real harms of AI, including algorithmic bias. She discusses how data scientists seek to understand these problems, and the importance of trustworthiness in the future of AI development. Having recently testified before Congress about AI governance, she shares her thoughts about building a governance ecosystem where human ingenuity can flourish.  

We are pleased to introduce a new Ropes & Gray podcast series, The Sponsor’s Edge: Insights on Growth and Venture Investing, which explores a variety of subjects of importance to growth and venture fund sponsors. This series will feature attorneys from a number of practice groups at Ropes & Gray, including private funds, venture investing & emerging companies, and restructuring, as they examine issues germane to growth and venture fund sponsors in the current investment environment.On this opening episode, asset management counsel Catherine Skulan hosts the first of a two-part conversation between Brad Flint, partner and co-lead of Ropes & Gray’s venture investing & emerging companies practice, and Raj Banerjee, a senior associate in that practice. Brad and Raj discuss down rounds and their alternatives, including recapitalizations when a down round isn’t enough. Their discussion also sheds light on evolving and emerging terms that are becoming increasingly common in today’s deal landscape.Please stay tuned for the second part of their conversation, where they will cover the emergence of additional terms and investor protection mechanisms recently taking root in the market.